Signs of hepatitis C in men. Symptoms, treatment, prevention

Hepatitis C is a disease that contains an RNA virus. When it enters the human blood, destructive processes occur in the liver. They are of a severe nature and without special treatment can lead to death.

A person with hepatitis C poses a threat to others, as the disease is contagious. In order to protect yourself from infection, you need to study in detail how the virus is transmitted.

Unfortunately, the figure of the sick people on the whole planet is quite large. At the moment - more than 170 million. In the risk group are both women and men, but in recent cases the disease is much more complicated.

Description of hepatitis C

Signs of hepatitis C in men may appear 1-4 months after infection. Such a large time interval is explained by the different percolation ability. Doctors excrete a long and light form. As a rule, viral hepatitis C develops gradually. Over time, new foci of inflammation can occur, and subsequently the disease becomes severe, which leads to cirrhosis of the liver.

The RNA virus is transmitted through the blood. All people in contact with patients are at risk. They are urged to study how hepatitis C is transmitted. Getting into the body of a healthy person, the virus begins to multiply gradually, hitting the liver cells. This leads to a violation of its functionality, and in the end result to complete destruction. Sometimes the incubation period can last up to six months.

The insidiousness of hepatitis C lies in its hidden form. There were cases when the disease for a long time showed no signs. This greatly complicates the task for doctors, since hepatitis can not be cured in a neglected form.

Symptoms in acute (initial) form

Hepatitis C in acute (initial) form has the following symptoms:

• A sharp decline in strength;
• A feeling of constant weakness and drowsiness;
• fast fatiguability;
• Pain in the joints;
• fever;
• Indigestion, nausea, vomiting;
• The skin becomes icteric;
• A sharp increase in temperature (38 degrees and above);
• A constant taste of bile in the mouth;
• Unpleasant sensations in the right hypochondrium, sometimes accompanied by pain.

Some patients in the early stages of hepatitis C experienced severe headaches, decreased appetite and skin itching.

This disease is characterized by changes in the liver and spleen. These organs can significantly increase in size. Also, one of the obvious signs of hepatitis is the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. This symptom indicates severe violations and even cirrhosis of the liver.

Very often the acute form becomes chronic, which can last for decades. With proper treatment, more than 30% of patients can hope for a full recovery.

This symptomatology is characteristic of many diseases, so doctors do not recommend self-medication. Precisely diagnose hepatitis C can only after a comprehensive examination.

Signs of severe hepatitis

Symptoms of hepatitis C in men in fulminant form appear almost immediately. This kind of rare, but very heavy. The spread of the virus is rapid, and after 10-14 days the patient's health deteriorates. There is a high risk of hepatic coma. The general symptoms of the disease are very similar to the initial form, but they are expressed in a more severe form. Positive dynamics is observed only in 20% of patients.

Hepatitis C: chronic form

One of the features of hepatitis C is the chronic form. During her period of remission can last from 10 years or more. As a rule, relapses and jaundice are observed only in 3% of patients. The only complication of this form is the constant mutation of the virus. This greatly complicates the task of the immune system, which tries to recognize the damaged cells and destroy them. Due to constant changes, it is impossible to stop the reproduction of the virus, which deprives the patient of the possibility of full recovery.

Signs of hepatitis C in men in chronic form:

• Sleep disturbance: drowsiness occurs during the day, insomnia at night;
• The body ceases to withstand physical exertion, even the most insignificant;
• Decreased appetite;
• Weakness and dizziness are felt;
• Eating is often accompanied by vomiting and biliary eructations.

Hepatitis C is a menace

This virus is not selective, in the risk group are both men and women. However, there is some peculiarity: a strong sex endures this disease much harder. Also, the signs of hepatitis C in men are diagnosed much more often. Basically, this is explained quite simply: among them, a larger percentage of those who abuse alcohol, violate sanitary and hygienic standards, suffer from reduced immunity.

There is another important point about which one should not forget: in the male body, the hormone estrogen is not produced at all. And this, in turn, leaves the liver without protection.

In chronic form, men may suffer:

• Gynecomastia (increased mammary glands);
• Decreased potency;
• Ejaculation disorder.

As a rule, all these signs lead to a disturbance of the mental state and cause prolonged depression.

Hepatitis C: liver treatment, drugs, methods

The main way to treat hepatitis C is to prescribe antiviral medicines. They are accepted according to a certain scheme. Such treatment can last from 6 months to 1.5 years. The main determining factor in the choice of methods is the positive dynamics in therapy.

When choosing medicines, priority should be placed on treating the liver. Drugs, which are most often prescribed to patients, belong to the antiviral group. The most effective complex treatment is the combination of "Ribavirin" with interferon pegylated (Aalgeron, Pegasys).

During the taking of these drugs, the patient is given a regular examination. The first blood sampling is taken after 1 month. According to its results, doctors can predict the further behavior of the disease.

Preventive measures

So, after examining in detail all the signs of hepatitis C in men, you can make a single conclusion - you need to protect yourself from infection as much as possible. What measures need to be taken for this:

• Injections should be done only with disposable syringes;
• To abandon bad habits, in particular, from alcohol and drugs;
• Use only personal hygiene supplies (machines, toothbrush, etc.);
• During procedures in cosmetic and dental offices use only disposable instruments;
• Protected sex.